Terrorists Attack Non-Locals in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir: 7 Dead, 5 Injured
Srinagar, 21st October 2024: In a tragic incident on Sunday night, terrorists targeted non-local workers in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, leaving seven people dead, including a doctor, and five others injured. The injured laborers were immediately referred to Srinagar Medical College for treatment.
All the laborers were involved in a tunnel project being run by the central government. Following the attack, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, which continued into Monday morning.
In a related development, security forces killed one terrorist in Baramulla, located 50 km from the site of the Ganderbal attack. A significant cache of weapons was recovered, and a search operation is ongoing in the Baramulla area as well.
The Ganderbal attack took place in the assembly constituency of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He condemned the attack, stating, “I strongly condemn this attack and express my condolences to the victim families.”
Home Minister Amit Shah also condemned the attack, vowing that those responsible will be brought to justice. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari remarked, “This attack is against those who are contributing to the development of the country.”
The deceased doctor has been identified as Shahnawaz Ahmed from Budgam. The other victims include Gurmeet Singh from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Anil Kumar Shukla and Faheem Nazir from Bihar, Shashi Abrol from Kathua, and Mohammad Hanif and Kaleem, both also from Bihar.
This attack follows a similar incident just four days earlier, on October 16, when terrorists shot and killed Ashok Chauhan, a non-local laborer from Bihar, in Shopian. His body was found under suspicious circumstances.
Recent Incidents of Targeted Killings
This attack is the latest in a series of targeted killings of non-locals and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, raising concerns about the safety of those working in the region.
– April 22, 2024: Terrorists shot and killed Mohammad Razzaq in Rajouri. His brother is an army soldier, and his father was also killed by terrorists 19 years ago.
– April 8, 2024: Non-Kashmiri local driver Paramjit Singh, originally from Delhi, was shot in Shopian while on duty.
– April 17, 2024: Terrorists killed Shankar Shah, a migrant from Bihar, in Shopian.
– February 7, 2024: Two Sikhs, Amrit Pal and Rohit Masih, were shot by terrorists in Srinagar.
Other incidents in recent years include the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma in Pulwama (February 26, 2023), Deepak Kumar in Anantnag (May 29, 2023), and multiple attacks on migrant laborers in Shopian and Bandipora throughout 2022.
The increasing number of such attacks has left the region on edge, with security forces continuing operations to prevent further incidents and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
